Chapter Text
The letter was very particular about wanting to hire someone that was not native from that town, you wondered why, but as you kept reading the newspapers the advertising, it seem too well paid, sounds like not a lot to do as well, to be the servant keeper, not many people working in such a grand abbey, that was the description, “…To whoever that may be interested, communicate to Sister Imperator at…” you kept on reading intrigued about what might be the thing that the letter doesn’t say.
You sip a little more of your cup of rose tea you take a few big sips until you feel warm inside, your feet and hands are cold, even though you're wrapped in covers, wearing thick gloves and double pair of socks, still almost unbearable, you get a little distracted by reading the ad over and over again, the offer is simply too good to pass up, you reach for the paper and a pen and start to write that you are interested in the position.
Two weeks later…
The journey was not far, it was just difficult, just a few hours away and the surrounding vegetation is a difference looking like from heaven to… well…hell. Why this place looks like it was a forest fire? You wonder, and yet, people were doing their daily life like they don’t see this black leafless trees, apparent sterile grounds, damp air, not even wind is blowing, once you arrived at the coach station, you walk from the station to the abbey alone, nobody was there to receive you, very few people were curious by the stranger among them, but things changed when you stopped to ask for the right way to get to the abbey, however, nobody leads you to it, they only advice you to turn back as soon as possible, or that you must be lost, you thought you heard a lady say “How far they’re willing to go to find servants…”
A couple of boys wanted to accompany you after you tried to paid them, since you cannot take the whole day asking to rude people who just won’t help. The children seem to be eager to lead you to the abbey, they didn’t want the money they just asked for a peek to the place you’re going. A majestic gothic looking building that peaks out between the walls of the stone road that leads you uphill closer to the place of your destination, the dark-toned building, the conical-shaped roofs, the brightly colored stained glass windows seem to be better appreciated if there was more light adorning the arch-shaped windows, surrounded by absolute silence, you hear a faint bleat, or so it seems, and a slightly better looking garden than the vegetation from the rest of the town below.
The children stayed behind talking about who would be the first to stick their heads out to see the spooky house. It was a relief to feel a stone path at your feet, although you already regretted that your shoes were full of mud from having walked so much, the sky closes on the house and the air feels heavier. The garden, despite its muted colors, it’s the most cheerful thing in the surroundings, even a few flowers dare to appear, the beautiful snowdrop flowers catching your eye, your favorite.
The heavy iron gate was open, you pushed the heavy door, which thanks to the humidity makes a creaking noise that hurts your ears, each push is an ordeal, but you manage to squeeze yourself into the property, you shake off the drops of dew that fell on you from moving the wet door, you adjust your coat and gloves, you grip your suitcase with a frozen fist. You cross the driveway path, inside the property, has adjoining trees on its sides, said path is covered with dry leaves, the result of the dying autumn. Winter was already here with a heavy and paralyzing cold, the leaves do not rustle at your feet due to the humidity, the almost bare trees welcome you with open arms, you’re walking to the entrance, rehearsing in your mind how to greet and all the possible questions that may be asked in the interview.
You knock on the door with the beautiful black iron knocker that hangs from a figure in the form of a horned goat, after knocking a few times on the heavy knocker, the door opens by a very tall and slender girl in a dark outfit, skinny face, sharp nose, full lips and lovely buck teeth, if you weren't so short, you would think that could be your sister. She greets you with a subtle smile, you explain the reason for your arrival and she opens the door for you to enter.
“So, you’ve arrived, at last, I was starting to think that one of the simpletons in town might have given you the wrong directions or scared you off” the girl closes the door and offers her hand to help you with your bag, meanwhile you try to clean your shoes on the carpet, the heavy door does not seem to be an impediment on being moved by such a thin girl.
“If that was a possibility, then why no one came to meet me at the coach station?” you ask thinking about the troubles to find this house. Both of you walk along a large hallway surrounding the central courtyard with a water fountain embellished with stone gargoyles.
“We trusted that if you made your way here, then you must be here” said so confidently like it’s nothing, like as if she trusted that there would be no setbacks “Sister Imperator was to interview you at your arrival, but she had to leave, so, it’ll have to be tomorrow, you can stay here for now. I’ll show you which one would be your room, if you please, follow me” the hall was a little less cold than being outside, the walls adorned with wallpaper in warm colors, the floor looks like white limestone. On the sides of the door of your room there are two large paintings of dystopian scenarios full of chaos and flames.
“My name is Eudora, y/n, if you need anything look for me in the kitchens or two doors down the corridor at your right from your room” you frown a little wondering how does she know your name, as if she can read your mind, she adds “I also read the application you sent, it’s my job”.
“Now that the mistress will interview me tomorrow, is it fine if I give you my recommendation letters?” you say as you take out the letter from your coat.
“Oh no, my child, sister Imperator is not the mistress of the house, there is just one master” she says turning to you before opening the door “I can take the letters, I just say this so there’s no further confusion” she takes the letters gently from your hands, then she opens the thick wooden door of your room, a warm wave hits you in the face as the fireplace is already on.
“And the master is not in, I suppose…” you say placing your suitcase on the bed and taking off your coat. Looking around the room that is perfectly lit with oil lamps on the walls and a few candles at your nightstand and a table at the window, even knowing that it is still daylight, the lamps are necessary because the fog does not allow the sunlight to penetrate into the room.
“Well, as far as we know, he is” she says placing your handbag on the divan at the foot of the bed, you go to the window to appreciate the view, but for that you have to open the curtains.
“Then why the master does not interview me?” you ask, running through the curtains of the largest window, the view immediately amazes you, since a thick forest greets you from the other side of the garden, the abbey is bigger than it seems, without losing the thread of the conversation, you hear Eudora speak behind you, still standing between the divan and the fireplace.
“Sister Imperator is the one ‘In charge’ shall we say” she says sitting on the divan carefully “Well of course, if the master is… indisposed” she smiles as if she refers to an inside joke.
“You must excuse my curiosity; I just like to know to who I should answer to then” you ask taking off your gloves, turning to see her.
“Well, I will tell you what to do and where is everything once you get hired, but we all answer to sister Imperator… and the master only if he speaks to you directly, but that doesn’t happen often, he’s rather…” she remains pensive for a few seconds with her eyes up looking for an answer.
“Rather what?” you push.
“Just listen carefully…” bleating is heard closer, similar to the ones you could hear when you arrived at the abbey, she gets up quickly but stays still on her feet.
“Is the master a child? And that’s why we answer to someone that doesn’t even live here?” you ask, trying to fill in the gaps that she apparently wants to keep discreet.
“No, not at all, the master is a grown-up man” she giggles, a more relaxed. She moves a little closer to the mirror on the dressing table and adjusts the neck of her dress a little.
“And do we know his name? or everybody just calls him master?” now you’re pushing a little harder for information, not just out of curiosity, but to know who you’re working with, after all you should know that sort of things.
“Well, yes, we call him master because that is what he is here, you see, he’s a Cardinal and he does not go out often… lately” She gestures for both of them to sit at the little table near the window, her calm body language is contagious, it seems she is open to answer more questions.
“So, we just attend here and pretend he’s not around, it seems” you take the opportunity to chat as much as possible.
“…pretty much” Eudora states confidently, looking up, being careful.
“Is the Cardinal a classist?” you ask out of an impulse, and also from past experiences with not so open people in other houses where they sent you notes instead of addressing people directly, because they deem domestic work as ‘beneath’ them.
“Shut your mouth, child, so soon you’re showing attitude?” she scolds you without changing her expression, something in her face makes you sense that she must have thought the same thing at some point, because she doesn't seem so upset.
“It was just a question, in the sense that maybe he doesn’t want to associate or have contact with the servants” you say in a conclusive tone, since the clock chimes on the wall announcing that it is noon.
“I think your curiosity should be satisfied for now. I’ll call you back to join us for dinner at 4:00p.m.” she says getting up from the chair next to you, getting ready to leave your room.
“So soon?” you ask without getting up. Straightening your back.
“Why yes, here we try to have dinner before it gets dark” says nodding slightly.
“Oh, I understand, because I will get up very early, before dawn, right?” you ask a little confused by the strange schedules.
“Well, we start chores after dawn, day is plenty enough to do your chores” He approaches the door, keeps her hand on the knob for a few seconds, to offer you a smile before leaving.
Finally you find yourself alone in your room, you feel confusion and intrigue, it is normal in such a new place, you get up to walk around the room a couple of times to familiarize yourself with the space, you find the bathroom door, it is wide for a single person and the copper tub is big enough to stay for a long time, which you decide to do before it is done later; the water was hot enough to simmer a whole small animal, perfect.